Spare the Alert issued for Sunday

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District declared a Spare the Air alert for smog Sunday.

Triple digit temperatures in the inland valleys, combined with low winds and motor vehicle exhaust, are expected to cause unhealthy ozone pollution in the Bay Area, the district said.

"Air pollution we generate daily, caused mostly by driving, will combine with high temperatures to cause unhealthy air quality this weekend," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. "Finding alternatives to driving, such as walking or biking, can make a big difference in our air quality and help protect public health throughout the region."

Spare the Air Alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone pollution is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions. When a Spare the Air Alert is issued, outdoor exercise should be done only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.